Flexible couplers



.1. BROWN 3,280,242

FLEXIBLE COUPLERS Filed May 5, 1966 IN VEN TOR. Jiyg fray 1a United States Patent 3,280,242 FLEXIBLE COUPLERS .ioseph Brown, 5051 Walton Ave., Philadelphia, Pa. Filed May 3, 1966,8er. No. 547,350 1 Claim. (Cl. 6427) The object of this invention is to devise a flexible coupler for motor pump units which will overcome the diflicnlties of flexible couplings of this type now on the market. To this end I employ a connecting link of round rod formation, provided with eyelets at each end to receive the connecting springs, said springs being in turn connected to the ends of the coupler halves, the coupler halves being provided with inserts to receive the springs. This construction eliminates the problem of having the springs jam in the holes in the coupler halves and on the connecting link when under sudden torque as is experienced in the prior art.

Other specific objects will appear in the detailed description.

For the purpose of illustrating the invention, I have shown in the accompanying drawings a preferred embodiment thereof which I have found in practice to give satisfactory and reliable results. It is, however, to be understood that the various instrumentalities of which the invention consists can be variously arranged and organized, and the invention is not limited, except by the scope of the appended claim, to the exact arrangement and organization of these instrumentalities as herein set forth.

FIGURE 1 is an end elevation of a flexible coupler embodying my invention.

FIGURE 2 is a side elevation.

FIGURE 3 is a top plan View.

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary section on an enlarged scale, of a portion of the end of a coupler half, showing the insert and spring end in detail.

FIGURE 5 is a section on line 5-5 of FIGURE 4.

FIGURE 6 is an end elevation of a flexible coupler of the prior art, showing the parts common to the art in phantom and the parts different from applicants being shown in full lines.

Similar numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts.

Referring to the drawings:

The flexible coupling of the present invention consists of two coupler halves 1 and 2, one half having a bore 3, adapted to be fixed in a conventional manner to the shaft of a motor, not shown, the other half having a bore 4 adapted to be fixed to the shaft of a pump in the conventional manner. A connecting link 5, round in cross section and being provided with eyelets at each end as at 6 and 7, is centrally disposed between the two coupler halves. The two coupler halves 1 and 2 are provided at their ends with arms 8, 9, 10 and 11, said arms being provided with apertures 12, 13, 14 and 15, adapted to receive inserts of any suitable metal such as hardened brass, as shown at 16, 17, 18 and 19. The inserts are in the form of grommets of a conventional type and are inserted in fixed relationship with the arms by a conventional tool used for this purpose, the inserts when in place, being provided with rounded edges 20 and 21, adapted to receive in freely movable relationship, one end of coil springs 22, 23, 24 and 25, the opposite end of said springs being retained in freely movable relationship with the eyelets 6 and 7 of the connecting link 5.

In the present invention the ends of the springs ride smoothly in their grommets at one end on the connecting arms, and at their opposite ends on the rounded portion of the eyelets on the connecting link, thus preventing any possibility of the springs catching or jamming in the apertures in the arms of the two coupling halves or on the connecting link and further provides proper balance of the coupling and equalization of torque.

This invention provides for easier starting, quieter and smoother running and longer life.

This invention relates to an improved flexible coupler with the construction of an insert at each end of the coupler half and a rounded connected link.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent, such as easier starting, smoother running and longer life, reducing the transmitting of vibrations or noises. The connection structure for each half is arranged at points adjacent on opposite ends and is embodied in the form to receive inserts at each half of the coupler half.

In a flexible coupler assembly, the combination consists of cooperating coupler sections each having connecting points adjacent opposite ends, arranged for rotation and equalization without vibrations.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

A flexible coupling comprising two equally spaced coupling halves, each of said halves comprising a hub portion adapted to be .connected to a shaft member, diametrically opposed arms extending outwardly from said hub portions, the arms of one of said halves disposed at an angle to the arms of the other of said halves, apertures located adjacent to the ends of each of said arms and extending therethrough, inserts disposed and secured in said apertures, each of said inserts having a smooth inner surface, at least one portion of said inner surface having a round contour, an intermediate link member disposed between said coupling halves, said link member being round in cross section and having a round eyelet formed on each end, spring members disposed between the ends of said arms and said link member, the 'end portions of said springs being smooth and round in cross section and formed in the shape of a loop, the said end portions of said springs received and retained in said inserts and eyelets to interconnect said coupling halves, the rounded surfaces of the end portions of said spring members coacting with the rounded surfaces of said eyelets and said curved contours of said inserts in freely movable relationship to prevent the possibility of the ends of the spring members catching or jamming in the said inserts and eyelets.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,180,695 4/ 1916 Carlson 6427 3,063,262 11/ 1962 Greene et a1. 6427 3,242,693 3/1966 Paulsen 6419 FRED C. MATTERN, 111., Primary Examiner.

HALL C. COE, Examiner. 

